Heart Of the Artist Part 9

Heart Of the Artist Part 9:

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies

as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship

Jealousy and Envy (Thou shall not covet)

Have you ever envied the talents of another artist?

Have you ever been jealous of someone else’s success?

If you are an artist you need to know how to deal with jealousy and envy, because 

there will always be someone more talented, more successful, more in vogue, more attractive, or more prominent in ministry than you.

Jealousy and envy are serious sins in the eyes of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 NIV

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Jealousy and envy can disrupt unity in a ministry.

Other Topics:

Anger and contempt. Do not sin in your anger

Ephesians 4:26 NIV

In your anger do not sin Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

The need to confess our sin:

James 3:14 NIV

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast

about it or deny the truth.

Appreciate your God given talent. Be grateful to God.  

1 Peter 4:10 NIV

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully

administering God's grace in its various forms.

Give credit where credit is due.

Faithfulness & obedience to God is important.

We tread on dangerous ground when we start comparing ourselves with others.  

Worship God more so than the gift you have been given. You have 

received a greater Gift that will resonate for eternity.

Hebrews 12:28 NIV 
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be

thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Be thankful in how God has gifted you and other people.

1 Corinthians 12:11 AMP

All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one

and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses.

Develop relationships instead of rivalries. We tend to alienate ourselves from the

people we envy. Do not be threatened by the talents of others. God has created

a unique work in you. Don’t flaunt what you got.

Question to think about:

What do you think prevents us from being content with the talents we have been given?

Challenge:

Write down the names of any people in your life toward whom you 

have feelings of jealousy and envy?

Confess this sin to God and ask Him to help you in dealing with it?

Think about how you can turn your jealousy and envy into worship.

We are all worship leaders. Whatever we do we need to remember who we are in Christ and The purpose He has given us. Everyday we have the opportunity to lead someone to the cross. The best way to do that is to show that we ourselves believe and model what we preach. We all have a God story to tell.

1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to

everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this

with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak

maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

We need to live a life of worship, not just on Sunday for one hour.

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as

living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Mark 12:30 NIV 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your

mind and with all your strength.

Psalm 92:1 NIV 
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,

Psalm 117:2 NIV 
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD

Psalm 150:6 NIV 
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Ephesians 4:1 NIV 
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling

you have received.

Ephesians 5:2 NIV 
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant

offering and sacrifice to God.

Colossians 1:10 NIV 
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may

please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the

knowledge of God,

Living a life of Worship is the essence of the true heart of the artist. In order to 

live this life we have to focus on the things of God. The Christian life is a process where we have to consciously avoid those things that pull us away from Godly living, and also avoid those things that take priority over our relationship with Him. We need to live in submission to God’s will where we offer our very lives in obedience to Him. We need to come to a point where our identity as true followers of Christ model faith and deeds working together.  We are to practice what we preach.

“What could be more costly than a person giving his life in service by living a 

way of the very highest of standards that his mind and body do not by nature 

and habit want to live? It requires a decision that will from time to time 

bring intense pressure upon him to control himself against strong drives 

to go in an entirely different direction. But he must control himself if he is 

to work in the service of God”.

John W. Ritenbaugh  

Jesus calls upon His followers to reject the natural human inclination toward 

self.The first step is to submit and surrender to God our will, our affections, 

our bodies, and our lives. Our own pleasures and happiness can no longer be 

primary goals. Instead, we must be willing to renounce all and lay down our 

lives, if required. Peter admonishes us to "no longer live . . . in the flesh for 

the lusts of men," meaning we should no longer pursue wrong desires. 

Are we willing to forsake all, to give up everything including our lives? 

Our Christian duty is to deny our lust of the flesh.

Martin G. Collins

I hope you have enjoyed exploring the Heart Of The Artist. One thing we 

can learn is that without Jesus we can do nothing as far as bearing fruit for 

His Kingdom.

Jesus put it this way:

John 15:5 NIV 
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him,

he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

As an artist in the Church or for that matter whatever we do in this Christian 

life we must do it with purpose and in obedience to our Lord. With a 

Christ-centered Heart a love for others and with the Holy Spirit’s guiding 

hand, we will make a positive difference in this life for God’s kingdom. 

Remember this:

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Personal Questions to Ponder and to be challenged by:

·        Do I ever envy the talents of another artist?

·        Am I jealous of someone else’s success?

·        Do I know Jealousy in terms of being envious and envy are serious sins in the

           eyes of God?

·        Do I sin in my anger?

·        Am I thankful in the way God has gifted me and other people?

·        Do I strive to develop relationships instead of rivalries? 

·        Am I threatened by the talents of others? 

·        What prevents me from being content with the talents I have been given?

·        Do I desire to serve God in spirit and in truth?

·        Do I love God enough to die to self?

Blessings………………..Dave